Awesome Stories 192

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Scientists have found evidence that our galaxy is part of a much larger and self organizing cluster of galaxies called a supercluster. Cool stuff!

Vermont Proposes Universal School Meals

I love this idea. Leaders in Vermont have recognized the importance of good eating as it relates to not only health, but learning for children. They’re proposing to offer free, healthy, locally sourced meals to every child in school. Just like kids are provided desks, books, materials, nurses and more, meals should be automatic to ensure healthy, alert children free of hunger or the shame of subsidy meals. Learn more at the Hunger Free Vermont website.

Mobile Green Machine

Here’s a fun idea for any fellow eco fans. Joseph Tayyer converted an old truck into a super cool, sustainable home on wheels. He has created a beautiful and green home on wheels, complete with solar panels and hot water, gorgeous woodwork and 7″ insulated walls. Too bad it cost $225,000! I’d like to do a smaller, cheaper version for traveling around the country. Too bad I sold my VW camper. I love Joseph’s idea to create a “village on wheels”, where residents could create a more dynamic lifestyle. Sign me up!

Creativity as Sacred Union

The heart of creativity is an experience of the mystical union; the heart of the mystical union is an experience of creativity. . . . Creativity is an experience — to my eye, a spiritual experience. It does not matter which way you think of it: creativity leading to spirituality or spirituality leading to creativity. – Julia Cameron

I enjoyed many things about Julia Cameron’s book, The Artist’s Way. I discovered valuable life lessons, as well as reminders for opening to creativity, life and spirit, which really are aspects of the same thing. I agree with her that to create is a deeply spiritual experience. Photography is more so for me than writing. I walk around looking for beauty and when I find it, I commune with the subject as a sacred gift to see the beauty, then photograph and share. Here is a fun article on getting out of your own way to allow creativity to flow.

Dr. Bob’s Clinic

What an amazing example of compassion. Dr. Bob runs a health care clinic in Albany NY where clients pay what they can afford and is mostly supported by donations. Watch this touching video.

Printable Solar Panels

Here’s another great idea for my eco nerd. These solar panels aren’t available to buy yet, but coming soon according to the researchers. Scientists from Australia’s national science agency, known as CSIRO, and two Australian universities, Melbourne and Monash, have been developing printable solar power cells. The solar cells are printed on standard 3D printers, adapted to use special solar ink that contains organic solar cells that can be fitted on surfaces like cellphones, windows, roofs and more. The applications are huge with an opportunity to completely change how we use our devices and allow creative integration of design and function. I want these too. Come to papa!

Transforming Grief

This is a great story about how the parents of Catherine Hubbard are transforming their grief with loving action in support of their daughter’s passion for animals. Catherine was one of the 20 children killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in 2012. Catherine loved animals and was continually performing acts of kindness for animals including fundraising and creating her own business cards. 🙂 Through the generous support of many people and a local animal care center, the Hubbards have created a foundation. Their vision is to build a leading edge animal sanctuary in Newton, CT called the Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary.

All of Julia Cameron’s books on encouragement to write or be creative are really wonderful. I loved her book’The Right To Write’ that got me writing a long time ago. She’s excellent at encouragement! Thanks for the link, the quote that stands out to me most is -> “We are victims of our own internalized perfectionist, a nasty internal and eternal critic, the Censor, who resides in our (left) brain and keeps up a constant stream of subversive remarks that are often disguised as the truth. . . . Make this a rule: always remember that your Censor’s negative opinions are not the truth. This takes practice. By spilling out of bed and straight onto the page every morning, you learn to evade the Censor.” I really like that, I shall remember that – starting tomorrow! 🙂

A very kind doctor, seeing all those patients for free! 🙂 It’s hard to imagine that situation where I live, we have automatic free healthcare in the UK, dental treatment as well. Although some dental treatment does require payment, but the basic care is free. Our health system isn’t as wonderful as it sounds, it has lots of flaws, but at least there is something available at virtually no cost. I can remember my dad talking about having to pay doctors around the time of the second world war, he lived in southern Ireland and it wasn’t part of Britain at that time. Just about everyone feared getting sick because no-one had any extra money to pay for medical treatment. I think there were doctors in those days that would treat families for free, just out of sheer kindness. Some people think we may lose our national health one day. If it ever does go, we will probably wish for it back, flaws and all! 😉

What a thoughtful reply! Thanks Suzy. From my side of the fence, universal health care provided by the government sounds great and I’m sure it’s not perfect. I’d like to see it considered a basic right.

I’ve really enjoyed Julia’s books and processes too, but haven’t read the book you mentioned. Maybe I’ll give it a go! Truthfully, with the blog and social media, I don’t journal or do morning pages anymore except for a few notes and thoughts during the day. Thanks for the reminders to be careful of that silly inner critic who loves to nag. XD